Printers gauge

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a device for counting typographical characters on a page of typed material. The disclosed invention includes a transparent first member which may be oriented along a line of typographical characters. A transparent second member is slidably mounted in a perpendicular relationship to the first member. There are provided on the first member a plurality of sets of parallel lines, each of said sets being disposed from one end of said transparent first member to another end, the lines in each of said sets being consecutively numbered. There are further provided on the first member a plurality of sets of discrete spaces also disposed from one end of the transparent first member to another end, the width of the spaces corresponding to a particular type size, and the width of said spaces being uniform within a particular set, such that said spaces are superimposable upon a line of typographical characters of a particular type face. The transparent second member is provided with a plurality of sets of parallel lines disposed substantially from one end of the second member to another end of the second member. The lines within a particular set are consecutively numbered and the distance between the lines of a particular set correspond to a particular line spacing of typographical characters.

This invention relates to a printers gauge.

More specifically, a device is disclosed for counting typographicalcharacters on a page of typed material. The disclosed invention includesa transparent first member which may be oriented along a line oftypographical characters. A transparent second member is slidablymounted in a perpendicular relationship to said first member. There areprovided on said first member a plurality of sets of parallel lines,each of said sets being consecutively numbered. There are furtherprovided on said first member a plurality of sets of discrete spacesalso disposed from one end of said first member to another end, thewidth of said spaces corresponding to a particular type size, and thewidth of said spaces being uniform within a particular type face. Saidtransparent second member is provided with a plurality of sets ofparallel lines disposed substantially from one end of said second memberto another end of said second member. The lines within a particular setare consecutively numbered and the distance between the lines of aparticular set corresponds to a particular line spacing of typographicalcharacters.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In general, as the material known as "copy" is being prepared forpublication, it is submitted to the layout person in typewritten form.It is imperative that the person performing such a layout operationidentify the size of the type being used and further obtain an accuratecount of the number of typographical characters, including spaces, uponeach page of typewritten material in that the size of the type and thenumber of characters will determine the area required within thepublication within which the material will be placed. In obtaining acount, it is obvious that a physical count of each character and spacemay be taken upon each page of material, although this has the obviousdisadvantage of being extremely cumbersome and time consuming. There areother methods used in the interest of time which produce faster countsyet sacrifice accuracy. One such method is to count the number of wordson a page of typewritten material and multiply the number of words timesfive to obtain an approximate count of typographical characters,although this has the obvious drawback of assuming that each word hasfive letters and further ignores the spaces between the letters. Anothermethod occasionally used involves measuring the number of characters perinch with a ruler and then multiplying the number of characters per inchthus obtained by the number of inches of typewritten material in eachline. Again, this method is subject to inaccuracies both in measurementand in computing characters in segments of lines which may be a fractionof an inch in length. The invention to be described more fullyhereinafter remedies these deficiencies and further includes manyfeatures not previously available therein.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a device whichenables simultaneous counting of the number of typographical characterson printed material without the necessity of a physical count or the useof any approximations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which enables aperson to quickly compensate for additional characters contained inlarger lines of typewritten material and for lesser characters inshorter lines.

Yet another object is to provide a device which reduces the computationof typewritten characters in a page of printed material through anelementary multiplication and addition operation.

Still another object is to define a region of maximum area in whichregion the number of typographical characters may be quickly computed byan elementary computation thus minimizing the necessity to includewithin the computation lines of unusual length.

In attaining the foregoing objects, the invention provides a transparentfirst member which has three sets of ruled lines, each line within aparticular set being a predetermined distance from another line, saidlines being consecutively numbered according to a predetermined scheme.All three of said sets are parallel to one another and extend along thefirst member from one end to another end. The distance between each linein a particular set is uniform in respect of that set although thedistance between lines varies among the sets. The first member also isprovided with at least two sets of discrete spaces, which sets areparallel to each other and to the three sets of lines along the firstmember. The spaces in each set are of predetermined uniform width andthe spaces of each set are consecutively numbered although the width ofthe spaces is not necessarily the same for each set, and each width issuch that of the width of a particular type face or character, whereby aparticular set of spaces is superimposable upon the typographicalcharacters of a line of typed material and each typographical characteris locatable within a described space.

A transparent second member is slidably mounted at one end to the firstmember such that the second member remains perpendicular to said firstmember.

The transparent second member is also provided with at least three setsof parallel lines disposed from a line where the projection of the edgeof the first member intersects the second member, along said secondmember to another end of the second member. The distance between eachline in a particular set is predetermined and uniform in respect of thatset and the lines of each of said sets are consecutively numberedaccording to a predetermined scheme, although the distance between linesmay vary among the sets. The predetermined distances between lines ineach set is such that said distances correspond to single, double andtriple spacing respectively of lines of typewritten material. The secondmember further has at least two sets of discrete spaces disposed in aperpendicular relationship to said sets of lines of second member andsubstantially parallel to the sets of spaces on the first member. Eachof the spaces in said sets of spaces is of predetermined uniform widthfor each set and the widths of the spaces each set are substantiallysimilar to the widths of the spaces of those sets of spaces on the firstmember. The second member has in addition, a hairline extending from oneend to another end, which hairline is substantially parallel to saidsets of lines on said second member and further is substantiallyperpendicular to the sets of spaces and lines on said first member andis located along an edge of the second member.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description of an illustrative embodimentthereof in the course of which reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in exploded view of three dimensional form thepreferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention in usecounting typewritten characters on printed material.

FIG. 2A is a detail view of a portion of a transparent first member andcertain lines and spaces thereon.

FIG. 2B is a detail view of a portion of a transparent first member anda transparent second member again showing lines and spaces thereon.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of a portion of a transparent first and secondmember being used to measure the size of a letter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A clearer understanding of the invention will be obtained if FIGS. 1 and2 are studied in conjunction with the description which follows.

Referring first to FIG. 2, a transparent first member 7 is disposed overtyped material 3. For purposes of illustration there can be seentypographical characters 4 through said first member 7. First member 7has first end 8 and second end 9, and further has a first edge 13 and asecond edge 12. First member 7 in addition has slot 49 disposed fromfirst end 8 to second end 9.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, first member 7 further has first line set 21which contains a plurality of discrete lines, a typical line in saidfirst line set 21 being identified by reference numeral 21a. In thepreferred embodiment, first line set 21 is shown as containingseventy-two of such discrete lines 21a per inch and each sixth discreteline is consecutively numbered as indicated generally by referencenumeral 33. Similarly, first member 7 also has second line 22 and thirdline set 23 which likewise have discrete lines, a typical line in secondline set 22 and third line set 23 being designated by reference numerals22a and 23a respectively. In the preferred embodiment second line set 22is shown containing sixteen of such discrete lines 22a per inch and eachsixteenth discrete line is consecutively numbered as indicated generallyby reference numeral 34. Third line set 23 contains six of said discretelines 23a per inch, each of said discrete lines being consecutivelynumbered as indicated generally be reference numeral 35.

Still referring to FIG. 2A, there is also provided a first set of spacesindicated generally by numeral 24 and a second set of spaces indicatedgenerally by numeral 26 which are similarly disposed on first member 7from first end 8 a second end 9. Said first set of spaces 24 iscomprised of distinct spaces, a typical space being indicated by numeral27 which spaces 27 are discrete and of uniform width. In the preferredembodiment, the width of these individual spaces 27 of first set ofspaces 24 is identical to the width of that type face known as elite,and the preferred embodiment further discloses 12 of such spaces perinch, or a total of 144 of such distinct spaces 27 integral with firstmember 7. Second set of spaces 26 is comprised of discrete spaces andthese are also of uniform width, such width being that of a type faceknown as pica, a typical space of second set of spaces 26 beingindicated by reference numeral 28. The preferred embodiment discloses 10of such spaces 28 per inch, or a total of 120 of such discrete spaces 28integral with first member 7. The said discrete spaces 27 of first setof spaces 24 are consecutively numbered as indicated generally bynumeral 31, and the spaces 28 of second set of spaces 26 areconsecutively numbered as indicated generally by reference numeral 32.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, second member 16 is transparent andhas first end 17 and second end 18, and further has first edge 36 andsecond edge 37 and first side 19 and second side 20. Grooves 57 and 58and protrusion 46 are located in proximity to first end 17 of secondmember 16, and these are disposed from first edge 36 to second edge 37on second side 20 of second member 16. Protrusion 46 on second side 20of second member 16 communicates with slot 49 on first member 7 andgrooves 57 and 58 are of sufficient width so as to receive first edge 13and second edge 14 of first member 7. In this configuration, firstmember 7 is able to slide relative to second member 16 and further,first member 7 and second member 16 remain in a substantiallyperpendicular relationship. First edge 13 of first member 7 may be seenthrough second member 16 because of the transparent quality of secondmember 16. Baseline 38 is disposed from first edge 36 to second edge 37of second member 16, and is superimposed upon and parallel to first edge13 of first member 7 where first edge 13 of first member 7 is visiblethrough second member 16. Referring now to FIG. 2B, second member 16 maybe seen to have first line set 41, second line set 42 and third line set43 which are substantially parallel to one another and extend frombaseline 38 to second end 18 of first member 16. Still referring to FIG.2B, first line set 41 contains discrete lines, a typical line in firstline set 41 being identified on FIG. 2B by reference numeral 41a andfirst line set 41 is disclosed in the preferred embodiment as containingsix of such discrete lines 41a per inch each of said discrete lines 41ahaving consecutive numbers associated therewith as indicated generallyby reference numeral 44, the spacing between each of said discrete lines41a corresponding to a single spacing arrangement of lines oftypewritten characters. Second line set 42 also contains discrete lines,a typical line in second line set 42 being identified by referencenumeral 42a and a second line set 42 is shown as containing threediscrete lines 42a per inch each of said discrete lines 42a havingconsecutive numbers indicated generally by reference numeral 46associated therewith, the spacing between each of said discrete lines42a corresponding to a double spaced arrangement of lines of typewrittencharacters. Third line set 43 also contains discrete lines, a typicalline in third line set 43 being identified by reference numeral 43a andthird line set 43 is shown having two discrete lines 43a per inch eachof said discrete lines 41a having consecutive numbers indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 47 associated therewith, the spacingbetween each of said discrete lines 43a corresponding to a triple spacedarrangement of lines of typewritten characters.

Still referring to FIG. 2B, second member 16 has first set of spaces 52and second set of spaces 53 which extend from first edge 36 to thirdline set 43, and are adjacent to and parallel with base line 38. Firstset of spaces 52 is comprised of discrete spaces a typical space infirst set of spaces 52 being identified by reference numeral 54, saidfirst set of spaces 52 containing ten of such discrete spaces 54 perinch, each of said spaces 54 being of uniform width such width being thewidth of that certain typographical face known as "pica".

Second set of spaces 53 is comprised of discrete spaces a typical spacein second set of spaces 53 being identified by reference numeral 55,said second set of spaces 53 containing twelve of such discrete spaces55 per inch, each of said spaces 55 being of uniform width such widthbeing the width of that certain typographical face known as "elite".Hairline 56 extend from first end 17 to second end of second member 16and is parallel to line sets 41, 42 and 43, hairline 56 being furtherlocated on second member 16 along first edge 36 of second member 16. Aregion 65 is shown on FIG. 2 which is formed on page 2 of typed material3 and within such region 65 the number of typographical characters maybe computed as more fully described hereinafter.

Finally, referring to FIG. 3, the disclosed invention is shown beingused to determine the size of a letter 64 which letter is not oftypographical size. It should be noted that for clarity and ease ofdepicting first member 7 and second member 16, that each and everydiscrete line and discrete space and the respective consecutive numbersassociated therewith has not been shown on FIG. 1 or 2. Only those linesor spaces which are useful in illustrating the preferred embodiment oftransparent first member 7 and its cooperation with transparent secondmember 16 are shown. As previously described, however, FIGS. 2A and 2Brepresent typical views along transparent first member 7 and transparentsecond member 16 respectively.

OPERATION

In using the within disclosed device to count typographical charactersand lines thereof, first member 7 is placed over a line 6 of saidtypographical characters 4. The hereindescribed calculations are easiestwhen line 6 is chosen as the first line of the page. First set of spaces24 and second set of spaces 26 are alternately placed over line 6 ofsaid typographical characters 4 until the individual spaces 27 or 28 ofeither set of spaces 24 or 26 coincide with the spacing of thetypographical characters 4.

Assuming that line 6 is not indented, by placing first end 8 of firstmember 7 over the beginning of line 6, a count of the number of suchcharacters may be instantly seen by referring to the consecutive numbers31 or 32 respectively associated with discrete spaces 27 or 28 of saidfirst set of spaces 24 or said sound set of spaces 26. With first member7 remaining in this position relative to said line 6 of typographicalcharacters 4, second member 16 is moved to a position relative to ashortest line 62 of typographical characters, said shortest line 62having a last typographical character 61 and necessarily having thefewest number of typographical characters therein such that hairline 56is placed directly over said last typographical character 61 of saidshortest line 62. At this point the spacing of the lines 6 oftypographical characters is compared to first set of parallel lines 41,which corresponds to triple spacing of said lines 6 of typographicalcharacters, second set of parallel lines 42 corresponding to doublespacing of lines 6 typographical characters or third set of parallellines 43 corresponding to single spacing of lines 6 of typographicalcharacters. A count of such lines may be obtained merely by noting theconsecutive numbers 44, 45 or 47 associated with sets of parallel lines41, 42 or 43 respectively. The number of typographical characters oneach of such lines 6 extending past hairline 56 are counted, by either amanual count thereof or by the use of either space set 52 or 53 onsecond member 16 an the count so obtained added to the number oftypographical characters located within region 65. The number oftypographical characters in said region 65 is computed by multiplyingthe number of characters is said shortest line 62 by the number of linesas previously determined yielding a total count of the number oftypographical characters per page of printed material. In the vent thatthere is a short line at the end of a paragraph, not illustrated on thedrawings herein, the number of characters therein may be readilyobtained by moving first set of spaces 24 or second set of spaces 26over said line and reading the appropriate consecutive numbers 31 or 32associated therewith. Similarly, if a beginning line of a paragraph oftyped material, not herein illustrated, is indented, examination ofconsecutive numbers 31 or 32 will yield the number of characters whichmust be subtracted from the count of characters within region 65 asabovedescribed to obtain the number of characters in said region 65.

Referring to FIG. 3, second member 16 may be placed along the bottom 67of a character 64 such that first edge 36 of second member 16 justtouches bottom 67 of character 64. By sliding first member 7 until firstend 8 of first member 7 is adjacent to top 68 of character 64 the sizeof character 64 may be immediately read by examining first set of lines21 which, as previously described, have consecutive numbers 33corresponding to seventy-two lines per inch and in this embodimentcorresponds to a standard printers gauge. Hence, the number 65 read onfirst set of parallel lines 21 is the size of the character 64.

Based upon the foregoing description, it may be seen that the presentinvention provides a device which defines a region of maximum areawithin the page of typewritten material and the number of typographicalcharacters within this region is readily computed by simplemultiplication. The characters remaining outside of this region areminimal in number and they are easily counted and added to a number ofthose characters contained within the defined region. The devise is ableto accommodate different sized of typographical characters and furtherenables a rapid count of shorter lines occurring at the indentation of aparagraph or at an unusually short line at the end of a paragraph.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the invention is onlylimited as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:
 1. A gauge for measuring the size of typographical characterson printed material and for counting the number of such characters andthe number of typographical lines comprising:(a) first transparentreading means having a first end and a second end, said firsttransparent reading means further having a plurality of sets of parallellines integral therewith disposed from said first end to said secondend, each of said sets of lines containing a predetermined number oflines, said first transparent reading means further having a pluralityof sets of discrete spaces integral therewith, said spaces being definedby a plurality of lines perpendicular to said sets of parallel lines,and disposed from said first end to said second end, said spaces havingpredetermined widths; and (b) second transparent reading means having afirst end and a second end and a first edge and a second edge, saidsecond transparent reading means being slidably mounted at said firstend of said second transparent reading means to said first transparentreading means such that said second transparent reading means isslidable relative to said first reading means and further that saidfirst transparent reading means and said second transparent readingmeans remain substantially perpendicular, said second transparentreading means further having a plurality of sets of parallel linesintegral therewith disposed from said first end to said second end ofsaid second transparent reading means each of said sets of linescontaining a predetermined number of lines, and further having aplurality of sets of discrete spaces integral therewith, said spacesbeing defined by a plurality of lines perpendicular to said sets ofparallel lines on said first transparent reading means, said spaceshaving predetermined widths, and being disposed from said first edge ofsaid second transparent reading means to said sets of parallel lines,whereby said typographical characters on said printed material arelocatable within at least one set of said plurality of sets of saiddiscrete spaces of said first transparent reading means and said secondtransparent reading means and further said lines of said typographicalcharacters are locatable in position relative to at least one of saidsets of parallel lines on said second transparent reading means.
 2. Thegauge of claim 1 wherein a first set of parallel lines integral withsaid first transparent reading means contains a predetermined number oflines such that each set contains a lesser number in a particular spaceset of lines than a preceeding set, and wherein the widths of saidspaces on said first transparent reading means are equal to the widthsof said spaces in a particular space set on said second transparentreading means.
 3. The gauge of claim 2 wherein a first set of parallellines integral with said second reading means contains a predeterminednumber of lines and each of said remaining sets of lines contain apredetermined number of lines such that each set contains a lessernumber of lines than a preceeding set.
 4. A gauge for measuring the sizeof typographical characters on printed material and for counting thenumber of such characters comprising:(a) a transparent first memberhaving a first end and a second end, and having a first edge and asecond edge, said first member further having at least three sets ofparallel lines disposed from said first end to said second end, thefirst of said sets containing a predetermined even number of lines, andthe second of said sets containing a predetermined lesser even number oflines and each of said remaining sets containing a predetermined lessernumber of lines than a preceeding set, said transparent first memberfurther having at least two sets of discrete spaces, said spaces beingdefined by a plurality of lines perpendicular to said sets of parallellines, said spaces in each of said sets having predetermined uniformwidths and being disposed from said first end of said transparent firstmember to said second end of said first member; and (b) a transparentsecond member having a first end and a second end and a first edge and asecond edge, and a first side and a second side, said transparent secondmember being slidably mounted at its first end to said transparent firstmember such that said first and second member remain substantiallyperpendicular, and further such that there exists a line on said firstside of said transparent second member, said line being the projectionof said first edge of said transparent first member onto said first sideof said transparent second member, said line further being disposed fromsaid first edge of said transparent second member to said second edge,said transparent second member further having at least three sets ofparallel lines disposed from said line on said second transparent memberto said second end of said transparent second member, a first of saidsets of parallel lines containing a predetermined even number of lines,a second of said sets of parallel lines containing a predeterminedlesser number of lines and the remainder of said sets of parallel linescontaining a predetermined number of lines such that each set of linescontains a lesser number of lines than a preceeding set, saidtransparent second member further having at least two sets of discretespaces, said spaces being defined by a plurality of lines perpendicularto said sets of parallel lines on said transparent first member, saidspaces in each of said sets having predetermined uniform widths andbeing disposed from said first edge of said transparent second member tosaid set of parallel lines on said transparent second member, said setsof spaces further being located in proximity to said first edge of saidtransparent first member, said transparent second member further havinga hairline extending from said first end to said second end and locatedin a position such that said hairline is superimposed upon said firstedge of said transparent second member.
 5. The gauge of claim 4 whereinsaid first set of lines on said transparent first member containsseventy-two lines per inch or a multiple thereof, and further haveconsecutive numbers associated therewith said second set of lines onsaid transparent first member contains sixteen lines per inch, or amultiple thereof, and further have consecutive numbers associatedtherewith and said third set of lines on said transparent first membercontains six lines per inch, or a multiple thereof, and further haveconsecutive numbers associated therewith.
 6. The gauge of claim 5wherein said first set of parallel lines of said transparent secondmember contains six lines per inch, and further have consecutive numbersassociated therewith, said second set of parallel lines on saidtransparent second member contains three lines per inch, and furtherhave consecutive numbers associated therewith, and said third set ofparallel lines on said transparent second member contains two lines perinch and further have consecutive numbers associated therewith.
 7. Thegauge of claim 6 wherein the spaces of each of said sets of spaces onsaid transparent first and second members have predetermined widthsequal to the width of typographical characters, said spaces of each ofsaid sets of spaces having consecutive numbers associated therewith. 8.The gauge of claim 7 wherein the width of each space in one set of saidspaces is equal to the width of those typographical characters known aspica and the width of each space in another set of said spaces is equalto the width of those typographical characters known as elite, wherebysaid typographical characters are located within at least one set ofdiscrete spaces on said transparent first and second members andfurther, whereby the lines of said typographical characters align withat least one set of parallel lines on said transparent second member.